By Richard Pagliaro | Saturday, January 24, 2026Photo credit score: Australian Open Fb
Novak Djokovic is aware of what it takes to climb to the highest of the tennis mountain.
The Grand Slam king is satisfied Iva Jovic has all the talents to scale the game’s summit.
Within the aftermath of Djokovic’s 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(4) Australian Open third-round win over Botic van de Zandschulp on Saturday evening, he made a daring declare: 18-year-old Jovic is a future world No. 1.
Djokovic, who’s pleasant with Jovic and her mother and father, Serbian immigrants to California, gave the Twenty ninth-seeded American shrewd tactical recommendation that she utilized in her 6-2, 7-3(3) upset of seventh-seeded Jasmine Paolini on Friday.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion stated Jovic has the important thing qualities to rise to the highest and win Grand Slam titles.
“I bought to know Iva final yr for the primary time. She’s so younger and he or she’s already making nice strides within the rankings and making some nice outcomes—she’s within the final 16. So we bumped into one another yesterday within the press space and I bought to share some observations of her recreation,” Djokovic advised Corridor of Famer Jim Courier in his on-court interview. “I suppose [what I told her] stays between us. I noticed that she did give away in her press convention what I advised her. That’s positive. It’s as much as her if she needs to share.
“Clearly, I actually like her. She’s a terrific lady and very nice household. Clearly, I really feel extra emotionally related to her due to her Serbian background. So I strive much more. She has all of the instruments to be a future champion—to be a future No. 1—and that’s precisely what I want for her.”
World No. 27 Jovic has dropped simply 16 video games in three event victories establishing a fourth-round showdown with agent provocateur Yulia Putintseva. The winner of that Sunday assembly will play both world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka or Seventeenth-seeded Victoria Mboko within the AO quarterfinals.
Jovic credited the recommendation from 10-time AO champion Djokovic delivered as a key to her upset of former Wimbledon finalist Paolini.
“Yeah, really I spoke to Novak yesterday somewhat bit. So it was fairly unbelievable,” Jovic stated. “He gave me some very attentive suggestions for my recreation and one thing I can attempt to incorporate into this match that I simply performed.
“In order that was one of many issues within the forefront of my thoughts, as a result of I believe when Novak offers you some recommendation, you comply with it.”
One piece of recommendation Djokovic shared was work the width of the courtroom along with driving the ball deep and attempt to assemble factors with a bit extra endurance.
“Yeah, it was simply to open up the courtroom somewhat bit higher, to not rush into the pictures on a regular basis, discover somemore width,” Jovic stated. “So I attempted to do this, and it ended effectively. So I’m simply going to attempt to maintain listening to Novak.”
